Its been quite awhile since I played along with Seven Clown Circus' Wordful Wednesday so I thought today was a great day to do so.
I have a love affair with plants. Most of the times it is a very strong bond in which we do the relationship dance of give and take. I give them water, fertilizer, and my undying love and they give me their green yummy goodness or something pretty to look at when I sit on my deck. However, every now and then I have a painful breakup that leaves us both sad and lonely.
The worst such breakup I have ever experienced was when a friend bought a rather expensive gardenia plant for my home. It was amazing, it smelled heavenly, and I went to the internet to learn how best to care for it and ensure a long and healthy life together.
I failed.
The poor thing started dropping its flowers, then its leaves wilted 1 by 1 with brown spots. Eventually all that was left was a pitiful looking gardenia skeleton with less than a dozen leaves hanging on for dear life. Shortly after its untimely demise and burial (yes, I buried the poor thing!) I learned that gardenias are not the easiest houseplant to care for and are actually quite finicky.
That made me feel a little bit better.
Today I am pleased to say I have a neon green thumb because everything I plant seems to grow in abundance.
Some of you (okay, maybe 2 of you) may remember back in the early days of my blog I mentioned a discarded Poinsettia that I found on a freezing January morning thrown into the dumpster at my apartment building.
No? Well I blogged about it here and here.
Suffice it to say I am the Poinsettia Whisperer because this plant loves me. 2 years after its original rescue it just keeps coming back every year. In the fall I cut its stem back all the way to the soil and put it in a deep dark closet. Then I let is hibernate for about 4 months during which time it is neither watered or given light. Miraculously when I pull her back out in March she has already started growing stalks and leaves, but they are pure white from the lack of sun. I love my pretty poinsettia.
I think she loves me too.
This year I have ventured into herb growing as well. My current favorites are these little beauties...
Mmmmm cilantro! Get in my belly!
This year Sam surprised me on Mother's Day with a beautiful flower his classroom planted for each of the moms. I look at it every morning and smile.
I would love to know what plants or herbs do you grow?
Do you get attached to your plants like I do?
For those of you who just adore plants (or me and my crazy stories) you can also check out a blog post I wrote here about a very special friend Noah had last summer.
They were perfect for each other!
